Getting Things Sewn is 1 Year Old

Readers,

On February 16, 2013, after several months of planning and several weeks of vacillating between feeling ready and not ready, I hit “Publish” for the first time, and Getting Things Sewn was launched.

It’s been one interesting year.

These last twelve months I’ve

• written the Getting Things Sewn manifesto (in rhyme!)
• created a chart to link designing a wardrobe with designing a workspace to produce it
• tested my chart as a guide for packing for trips
• done figure analyses for myself and Jack

  

• edited my fabric and button stashes
• written a tribute to my fairy godmother sewing teacher
• bade farewell to my duct tape double dress form

  

• uncovered garment treasures in the collection of the Goldstein Museum of Design in my volunteer hours
• recognized that sometimes the fault lies in the pattern, not in me
• begun researching designs for my own label

  

• concluded I’m a gatherer but not a collector

I’ve chronicled designing and remodeling my sewing space:

• defining functions and designating zones
• turning a dank, spider web-filled space under the front steps into a bright, dry cedar closet

  

• stripping wallpaper and painting walls
• installing lighting
• creating my planning corner

  

• building shelves for my sewing library

I’ve traveled

• to London, where I visited a vintage fashion fair, bespoke tailoring establishments, the Museum of London, and the Victoria & Albert Museum

  

  and took a day trip to see an  emporium of vintage buttons and trims

  

   

• to New York’s garment district, to visit Mood Fabrics and M & J Trimming

  

I’ve pondered processes:

• how to NOT use my serger
• what caused my sewing UFOs and how I might bring them to conclusion
• how to store my buttons for inspiration and easy retrieval

  

• how I can use others’ expertise to expedite my projects
• how finishing projects can give me a head start next time
• how to analyze what works and what doesn’t in garments I’ve made or bought

  

• what critical mass needs to occur to move a sewing dream to a sewing goal
• what I can accomplish while still being lazy and distracted
• what’s important for me to stop doing
• whether it’s better to make some things or buy them
• using vintage pattern sites creatively to brainstorm

  

• how to record and use my “meteor showers” of ideas
• how to reduce procrastinating by clarifying what I want to accomplish
• how to apply lessons from one project to another

I’ve acquired

• fabrics from the Textile Center’s annual sale and from the Guthrie Theater’s costume department

  

• my mannequin, Ginger, to model for me in my makeshift photo space

I’ve even gotten a few things sewn:

• from an early to mid-1930s pattern, a jacket using Art Deco-era buttons
• from a contemporary pattern, a skirt to accompany the jacket
• from a 1959 pattern, an orange version and a leopard-collar version of a big-collared, belted jacket

  

• from 1952, a swing coat with big patch pockets and vintage buttons
• from a unique 1950 pattern, linen and wool waistcoats with satisfyingly capacious pockets

  

• from 1950, a sleeveless blouse that was much more difficult than the result warranted
• from a 1991 Calvin Klein pattern, a comically large anorak

  

• from a 1955 pattern, a flannel “boy shirt”
• from 1944, a muslin for a trench coat

  

Then, to bring the first year of Getting Things Sewn to an exciting conclusion (or get the second year off to a rousing start), I announced that Jack and I are going to sell our house in Minneapolis and move 765 miles southeast to Columbus, Ohio.

That will mean designing a new sewing domain and developing a new local sewing community. It will also mean being within just minutes of my photographer’s studio, which will be fabulous, I promise you.

I was thinking this morning how Getting Things Sewn has been a game changer for me. Having this blog has elevated the realization of my sewing dreams from a to-do list to a larger, nobler, and more purposeful mission. That’s made all the difference.

It’s been with a mix of incredulity and gratitude that I’ve seen you, readers, show up. Thank you.

The forecast for Year Two: girl, situation, and jeopardy will continue, with more hilarity ensuing.